“People are going to talk about” Notts, Stockport and Wrexham
Prior to the current season, a lot of speculation about League Two promotion involved Stockport, who finished last in the play-off final, and newly promoted teams Notts and Wrexham, who many were predicting would win the title twice.
As we approach the crucial part of the season, Nigel Clough’s team leads the table and has a game in hand over the majority of the teams below them.
At the moment it looks as though five teams are battling it out for the fourth tier’s three automatic promotion places, with Notts sliding down the table into 10th after manager Luke Williams departed for Swansea City, and the Stags are the best set.
Speaking exclusively to FLW, Flint was pressed on all the talk surrounding Notts, Stockport, and Wrexham ahead of the season and how Mansfield had responded.
He said: “We’re happy going about our business – [we’ve] not been spoken about too much. We got a bit of attention when we beat Harrogate [Town] 9-2, which was obviously nice.
“You’re going to get people talking about Wrexham obviously because of the owners, Notts County coming up last season, and Stockport missed out in the play-offs – so, people are going to talk about those teams. We’ve gone about our business quietly and we’ll just do what we need to do.”
Nigel Clough “took a chance on me”
The summer arrival of the central defence at Field Mill was somewhat of a surprise. Many would have predicted that after leaving Stoke City as a free agent, he would go to another Championship team or maybe even a League One team, but he joined Mansfield and hasn’t looked back.
It’s worked out well for both of them. With two goals and three assists in his 41 games played so far this season, the central defence has not missed a single one and has worn the captain’s armband since August. Only Leeds United have conceded fewer goals in the entire EFL than the Stags, who boast the top defence in League Two this season thanks to Flint in their backfield.
He is certainly enjoying his football – as the new contract he signed in January illustrates – and is thankful that Clough offered him a new home after he left the Potters.
Playing under Nigel Clough has been enjoyable, Flint remarked. “He is a manager with extensive expertise. In football, these old-school managers are becoming rare, so it’s good to find them at my age. He’s been amazing and has been a huge help to me this year.
“He took a chance on me when I was looking around to see if I could get a club this summer, and I’m glad he did because I’m having a great time playing for him and Town.”
Drawing from his EFL promotion experience with Swindon Town, Bristol City, and most recently Sheffield Wednesday, Flint has naturally taken on a leadership role in the dressing room and on the pitch.
He said: “I won League Two many years ago with Swindon Town and got promoted twice from League One, so I know what it’s all about to be in and around the top of the table at the business end of the season.
“There’s not just me in the team, there’s a lot of experienced players like Stephen Quinn. There’s plenty of players who have got promotion in our squad, so we won’t get ahead of ourselves. We’ll take it one game at a time and just tick each game off as they come – and getting the three points.”
It’s a resurgent Newport County up next for Flint and Co, and while they’ll take nothing for granted, Mansfield will certainly head to Rodney Parade with plenty of belief that, having suffered play-off final heartbreak in 2021/22 and missed out on a top seven place on goal difference last term, this is their year.
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